Taiwan rejects blueberry and table grapes imports from Japan due to presence of prohibited pesticides

Taiwanese authorities recently seized a batch of blueberries supplied by a Japanese company, according to Taiwanese media. The blueberries were found to contain flubendiamide, a synthetic petrochemical pesticide that is prohibited for use on blueberries in Taiwan. 9 kilograms of blueberries were confiscated.

Lin Chin-fu, the Deputy Director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), disclosed that the detected pesticide residue in the fruit was measured at 0.07 parts per million (ppm). This was the second time in the past six months that Japanese blueberries failed safety inspections. 

In addition to the blueberries, a 45 kg shipment of Japanese grapes was also discovered to contain cyclaniliprol, another pesticide banned for use on grapes in Taiwan. The FDA announced that these shipments would either be returned to the country of origin or destroyed.

Furthermore, the FDA informed about nine other imported items that recently failed safety inspections. These included fresh Chinese cabbage imported from Vietnam, mushroom powder from China, and corn from the United States.